At just 16 years old, Izzy Burg of Onalaska, Wisconsin is already an established Junior Handler and owner who has already begun her own breeding program. Currently active in Conformation, Burg also participates in with her Terriers.
Finding Her Way in Junior Showmanship
Burg first got interested in dog sports at age eight, while attending a Barn Hunt trial with her mom and two of her family鈥檚 dogs. There, she fell in love with terriers and wanted to learn more. 鈥淚 started showing at the age of nine,鈥� Burg says. 鈥淭hough my parents were never in the sport, I was lucky to meet my fellow club members at a Barn Hunt trial.鈥�
She now breeds Smooth Fox Terriers, and several of her bred-by dogs have won Terrier group placements. Burg also shows a variety of other breeds, including , and Coated Chinese Cresteds. Some of Burg鈥檚 own dogs include Warwick & Misty Hollow鈥檚 She鈥檚 The Queen (鈥淧rym鈥�), Misty Hollow鈥檚 A Wrinkle In Time (鈥淩ipp鈥�), Warwick鈥檚 Away From The Things Of Man (鈥淏riar鈥�), CH Tada鈥檚 Chocolate Carmel Truffle (鈥淰eruca鈥�). Warwick鈥檚 Majora鈥檚 Mask (鈥淭ingle鈥�), Stardom & Crown Heart Of A Dream (鈥淎mvri鈥�), and CH Renegades Beauty Behind The Veil (鈥淟ush鈥�). She also co-owns several other dogs, including and Mini Bull Terriers.
Learning From Other Juniors
Burg has done some Agility with her Toy Fox Terrier 鈥淪hiloh鈥� and earned a Jumpers title, but Conformation remains her favorite sport. She has also tried to get Canine Good Citizen (CGC) titles on her dogs and works to encourage Barn Hunt with her terriers, since she says they typically love it. Burg has become more observant from watching how other Juniors present their dogs and learning the subtle things that judges are looking for. 鈥淛uniors is something that has shown me how to lose and how to win, and still come out with the best dogs. Without the Junior ring, I wouldn鈥檛 have the knowledge or mindset that I do,鈥� she explains.
The proudest moment in her show career so far was 鈥渨inning my very first group 1 [first-place win] with my friend鈥檚 stunning Cairn Terrier 鈥楬alo,'鈥� she recalls. Her second proudest moment was winning two bred-by terrier groups with Prym, who鈥檚 her first bred-by dog. 鈥淧rym鈥檚 a beast to show. It鈥檚 like wrangling a fox鈥ut it鈥檚 worth it when we pull off a good performance,鈥� Burg says.
Understanding Dog Behavior
Win or lose, the most important part of showing dogs for Burg, is, of course, the dogs. 鈥淢y favorite part is the special connection I try to build with every dog I handled so that I can share myself to make that certain breed of dog shine like they should,鈥� she explains. Her dedication and commitment to the dogs make her especially sensitive to the unique temperament and behavioral needs of each dog whose leash she holds. She grew up around rescued dogs, some of whom were reactive, noting that she was 鈥渞aised to always be aware of temperaments and body language.鈥� She uses this experience to help her to approach each new dog she meets. 鈥淚 try to get to know the dog before I take them in the ring, so they are comfortable with me, and I am comfortable with them.鈥�
To date, her biggest challenge has been helping her English Setter Amvri enjoy showing. 鈥淎fter many months of blood, sweat, tears, training classes, strangers, and the support of her breeders, I鈥檝e finally gotten her to enjoy the show ring again.鈥� Key to their success is going at her dog鈥檚 pace. 鈥淓ven if she has off days still, we don鈥檛 push it. She and I are still progressing as a team. Even if it鈥檚 slow, it鈥檚 one small accomplishment at a time,鈥� she explains.
Becoming a Breeder Herself
After gaining experience showing, Burg turned her sights to starting her own breeding program. She recalls that she fell in love with 鈥榃yatt鈥� the Smooth Fox Terrier, who was owned by her who provided connections for her first Smooth Fox Terrier. 鈥淟ater, I had been offered a foundation bitch named Veruca,鈥� she adds.
Upon getting Veruca, Izzy finished the dog鈥檚 Championship. To date, she has now bred three healthy litters. One of the puppies she bred recently won Reserve Winners Bitch at the breed鈥檚 national specialty. Burg credits her mom with being her biggest supporter, helping her get to the shows she needs to attend. 鈥淪he has been there to whelp all three of Veruca鈥檚 litters, as I was away at a show for the first two.鈥�
Burg was so proud when she finally had the opportunity to be there in person to whelp that third litter. 鈥淚t was so so scary, but I did good about not crying until the second puppy [Tingle] was born. Truly, I was so proud of my brood bitch, and I still am.鈥�
Surrounded By Supportive People
No matter your age, It鈥檚 important to always uphold good sportsmanship. 鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 win, lose with a smile on your face, because even if you put on the best performance with a dog you love and cherish, you won鈥檛 always win or be placed. There is always another show,鈥� she encourages.
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For kids and teens interested in showing dogs, Burg recommends surrounding yourself with good people. She notes that, even if your peers might talk behind one another鈥檚 backs, spend time with Juniors who demonstrate good showmanship. Burg suggests it鈥檚 helpful for adult competitors, handlers, and breeders to 鈥渢ake new Juniors under their wings and teach them the correct ways of sportsmanship and to teach them about their breed.鈥� Burg encourages others to be friendly to any Junior Handler and direct them towards reliable breeders and mentors.
Burg鈥檚 Bright Future
Burg is looking forward to continuing to develop her skills in the show ring. She hopes to get involved in Field Trials with her English Setters in the near future. Her current priorities involve showing her bred-by dogs, and she notes, 鈥淚 will be traveling lots with over the summer to get their championship and later I鈥檒l possibly special one of them for a year, depending on how they mature.鈥� Her other goal is to get a 7th Best Junior Handler win. This would qualify her to compete as a Junior Handler for the first time at the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.